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The Receptor Mechanisms Underlying The Disruptive Effects Of Haloperidol And Clozapine On Rat Maternal Behavior: A Double Dissociation Between Dopamine D2 And 5-Ht2a/2c Receptors, Changjiu Zhao, Ming Li

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Many antipsychotic drugs disrupt active components of maternal behavior such as pup approach, pup retrieval and nest building at clinically relevant doses in postpartum female rats. However, the neurochemical mechanisms underlying such a disruptive effect remain to be determined. This study examined the neurochemical mechanisms that mediate the disruptive effects of haloperidol (a typical antipsychotic) and clozapine (an atypical antipsychotic) on rat maternal behavior. Postpartum rats were administered with haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg, sc) or clozapine (10.0 mg/kg, sc) together with either vehicle (saline or water), quinpirole (a selective dopamine D₂/D₃ agonist, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg, sc), or …